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LicenseReciprocity

Plumber License from Louisiana to Georgia: Does It Transfer? (2026)

Last verified: 2026-07-21 · source: Georgia State Construction Industry Licensing Board — Division of Master and Journeyman Plumbers (Office of the Secretary of State) ↗

A plumbing license transfers from Louisiana to Georgia by endorsement — there is no automatic reciprocity, but you do not start over. Apply to the Georgia State Construction Industry Licensing Board — Division of Master and Journeyman Plumbers (Office of the Secretary of State), verify your Louisiana license, and meet Georgia's endorsement requirements. Under Board Rule 121-2-.03 ('Statewide License by Reciprocity') Georgia may issue a journeyman or master plumber license WITHOUT its own examination to an applicant holding a current out-of-state license that was granted by passing an exam given by a board whose examination and requirements are substantially equal to Georgia's and that offers a reciprocal privilege to Georgia licensees; however, the Division's FAQ states Georgia currently has no reciprocity with any state, so in practice out-of-state applicants must pass the Georgia plumber examination (minimum score 70).

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Verdict

Licensure by endorsement

Louisiana is not among the states Georgia names for an automatic exam waiver, so this move runs on the Georgia State Construction Industry Licensing Board — Division of Master and Journeyman Plumbers (Office of the Secretary of State)'s individual endorsement or equivalency review rather than a guarantee. Under Board Rule 121-2-.03 ('Statewide License by Reciprocity') Georgia may issue a journeyman or master plumber license WITHOUT its own examination to an applicant holding a current out-of-state license that was granted by passing an exam given by a board whose examination and requirements are substantially equal to Georgia's and that offers a reciprocal privilege to Georgia licensees; however, the Division's FAQ states Georgia currently has no reciprocity with any state, so in practice out-of-state applicants must pass the Georgia plumber examination (minimum score 70). Bring your Louisiana license, proof that it is active and in good standing, and your apprenticeship and exam records — and get any discretionary exam or experience credit in writing before you rely on it.

What changes, Louisiana → Georgia

Side-by-side: Louisiana vs Georgia (Plumber (journeyman/master)), verified 2026-07-21
Louisiana (current)Georgia (destination)
Application fee$40–$165 (Exam track: $125 examination fee plus $40 initial license fee (about $165 total) per La. Admin. Code tit. 46 Pt. LV §312. Reciprocal Arkansas/Texas applicants are exam-exempt and pay the board's reciprocal application fee (reported around $100 for the Arkansas journeyman-plumber/natural-gas-fitter application), which could not be confirmed on a reachable official page.)$80–$160 (Journeyman ~$80 ($70 application + $10 processing); master ~$160 ($150 application + $10 processing) per the Division's plumbing exam/initial-application form. Examination administered by PSI with a separate exam fee paid to PSI; that exam is waived only for a qualifying reciprocity applicant under Rule 121-2-.03. Fee figures obtained via search extraction of the Division's official forms because the sos.ga.gov fee-schedule PDF returned HTTP 403 on direct load)
Processing timeNo board-stated processing time published in the LAC or reachable board pages.No board-stated processing time in weeks; the Division publishes exam dates and application deadlines and an application must be approved before the scheduled examination
Licensing authorityState Plumbing Board of Louisiana (SPBLA)Georgia State Construction Industry Licensing Board — Division of Master and Journeyman Plumbers (Office of the Secretary of State)

The destination column is what you must satisfy — Georgia sets the rules for this move.

Step by step

  1. Confirm Georgia's current requirements on the Georgia State Construction Industry Licensing Board — Division of Master and Journeyman Plumbers (Office of the Secretary of State) website (linked below) — rules change.
  2. Submit the endorsement application to the Georgia State Construction Industry Licensing Board — Division of Master and Journeyman Plumbers (Office of the Secretary of State) (application linked below).
  3. Arrange license verification from your current state via the verification system.
  4. Journeyman: document at least one (1) year of experience in plumbing work (Rule 121-3).
  5. Pass the Georgia plumber examination with a minimum score of 70 (administered by PSI) unless qualifying for reciprocity under Rule 121-2-.03.
  6. Provide three references from licensed plumbers attesting to experience.
  7. Apply through the GOALS online licensing portal (paper applications no longer accepted).
  8. Master (statewide) tier requires five (5) years of experience, at least two (2) as a licensed journeyman plumber.
  9. Pay the fees ($80–$160 (Journeyman ~$80 ($70 application + $10 processing); master ~$160 ($150 application + $10 processing) per the Division's plumbing exam/initial-application form. Examination administered by PSI with a separate exam fee paid to PSI; that exam is waived only for a qualifying reciprocity applicant under Rule 121-2-.03. Fee figures obtained via search extraction of the Division's official forms because the sos.ga.gov fee-schedule PDF returned HTTP 403 on direct load)) and allow No board-stated processing time in weeks; the Division publishes exam dates and application deadlines and an application must be approved before the scheduled examination.

Official links

Related guides

Frequently asked questions

Does Georgia accept a Louisiana plumbing license?

A plumbing license transfers from Louisiana to Georgia by endorsement — there is no automatic reciprocity, but you do not start over. Apply to the Georgia State Construction Industry Licensing Board — Division of Master and Journeyman Plumbers (Office of the Secretary of State), verify your Louisiana license, and meet Georgia's endorsement requirements. Under Board Rule 121-2-.03 ('Statewide License by Reciprocity') Georgia may issue a journeyman or master plumber license WITHOUT its own examination to an applicant holding a current out-of-state license that was granted by passing an exam given by a board whose examination and requirements are substantially equal to Georgia's and that offers a reciprocal privilege to Georgia licensees; however, the Division's FAQ states Georgia currently has no reciprocity with any state, so in practice out-of-state applicants must pass the Georgia plumber examination (minimum score 70).

Which exam applies moving from Louisiana to Georgia?

Under Board Rule 121-2-.03 ('Statewide License by Reciprocity') Georgia may issue a journeyman or master plumber license WITHOUT its own examination to an applicant holding a current out-of-state license that was granted by passing an exam given by a board whose examination and requirements are substantially equal to Georgia's and that offers a reciprocal privilege to Georgia licensees; however, the Division's FAQ states Georgia currently has no reciprocity with any state, so in practice out-of-state applicants must pass the Georgia plumber examination (minimum score 70).

What does the Louisiana-to-Georgia move cost and how long does it take?

$80–$160 (Journeyman ~$80 ($70 application + $10 processing); master ~$160 ($150 application + $10 processing) per the Division's plumbing exam/initial-application form. Examination administered by PSI with a separate exam fee paid to PSI; that exam is waived only for a qualifying reciprocity applicant under Rule 121-2-.03. Fee figures obtained via search extraction of the Division's official forms because the sos.ga.gov fee-schedule PDF returned HTTP 403 on direct load); processing No board-stated processing time in weeks; the Division publishes exam dates and application deadlines and an application must be approved before the scheduled examination.

Can I keep my Louisiana plumbing license after I'm licensed in Georgia?

Yes — plumbing licenses in different jurisdictions run independently. Keep the Louisiana credential active on its own renewal and continuing-education schedule and you hold both, which is common for plumbers working near a state line.

Sources

Primary sources only — official boards and compact commissions. Data last verified 2026-07-21.

Reviewed by Billy Reiner, Editor · verified against primary sources 2026-07-21

How we verify · All sources · spot an error? [email protected]